Sealing arrangement for a down hole valve

Abstract

The present invention regards a sealing arrangement for a valve, comprising a valve element ( 3 ) provided with a sealing element ( 4 ), arranged to be abutting a valve seat ( 2 ) in a closed state of the valve. The valve element ( 3 ) comprises at least two parts, a first and second part ( 31,32 ), each comprising an abutting surface ( 310,320 ), which abutting surfaces ( 310,320 ) are arranged facing each other and to abut against corresponding sealing element surfaces ( 41,42 ) of the sealing element ( 4 ), and whereof at least one part ( 31 ) of the valve element ( 3 ) is being arranged to be moveable relative another part ( 32 ) of the valve element ( 3 ) and the at least one part ( 31 ) of the valve element ( 3 ) comprises a pressure surface ( 311 ) exposed to a surrounding fluid in a closed state of the valve giving pressure on the sealing element ( 4 ) responsive to the pressure in the surrounding fluid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing arrangement for a valve, comprising:
 a first member and a second member and a flow path defined between them, one of the first member and second member having a valve seat; 
 a sealing element for engaging the valve seat in a closed state of the valve; and 
 a valve element arranged between the first and second members to control flow through the flow path, the valve element comprising a sleeve part movable in an axial direction of the valve and a ring part mounted on the sleeve part and movable along the sleeve part, the sleeve part and ring part having opposing surfaces defining a gap in which the sealing element is arranged, the valve element being configured such that at least one of the opposing surfaces is movable relative to the other opposing surface in the axial direction in response to a pressure of a surrounding fluid acting on a surface of the valve element in the closed state of the valve. 
 
     
     
       2. The sealing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing surfaces are angular surfaces arranged to form a partly V-shape. 
     
     
       3. The sealing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is an annular shaped sealing element. 
     
     
       4. The sealing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second members comprises a stopping seat arranged to abut a stopping surface of the ring part at a select axial position along the valve, thereby preventing further movement of the ring part in one direction along the axial direction while allowing movement of the ring part in another direction along the axial direction. 
     
     
       5. The sealing arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve part comprises a protective part in opposing relation to an end surface of the ring part, the protective part being configured to cover at least a portion of the end surface of the ring part from flow of fluid through the valve in an open state of the valve.